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Beijing organizers have decided to launch a new logo for the 2008 Olympic Games although there is a bit of reluctance to do that.

The old logo, shaped like a person playing "Taiji", the country's traditional shadow boxing, has remained in use after the organizing committee was set up in the mid of this month.

"We have a strong bond with the old logo, which is a symbol of our bidding success," said Zhang Ming, a top publicity official ofthe Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.

Zhang said that they had wished to keep to the old logo, but later decided to introduce a new one no later than the end of next year.

"The logo is part of the Olympic marketing, so to safeguard the interests of the Olympic sponsors, it had better to have a new one.

"The old logo has been used too widely, so a new logo would contribute to the protection of the Olympics-related intellectual property rights," she said.

Previous Olympic hosts had the same reluctance following their bidding successes although they eventually adopted a new one for the Olympic Games, Zhang added.

She said that to launch a new logo, along with the mascot and anthem of the 2008 Games, is also an effective way of getting people involved in the seven-year preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"Designs for the logo, mascot or anthem will be open to the world, in this way everyone can become part of the Olympics and make their own contribution to the success of the Games," said Zhang.(People's Daily)